An amazing and action packed day at York on Saturday was highlighted by a ten length win by Irish star Meadowbranch DJ (John Richardson for Mark and Willie Flanagan) in the first heat of Australia’s Inter Dominion, where the time of 3.00.8 broke the long standing British record for a mile and a half by three seconds.
The winner assumed the lead after a 27.8 opening stanza, ran through the mile in 1.59.4 and in the final lap shot clear of his floundering harness racing rivals.
A luckless Brywinsmagicpotion shook clear of traffic late to grab second place from stablemate of the winner Meadowbranch Romeo who led out then took the trail.
Outside of the winner Saunders Mach 3 was the run of the race as he sat three wide for the last five furlongs (1000 metres) and was a whisker off the placegetters.
The second heat of the series will be conducted at Dublin’s Portmarnock circuit on Sunday July 26.
The other highlight of the day was top three year old Titanium’s heat and final victory in the York 3YO Championship – he set a new British record of 1.56.8 for his age group early in the day, then eclipsed that mark with a 1.56.4 clocking in the final, ending Rewrite History’s unbeaten streak of seven when comfortably holding off his late charge.
Scottish gelding Robhall was an outsider when outfinishing UK’s best four year olds in a blanket finish to win the York 4YO Championship in a day of class pacing and trotting that will be well remembered.
By Bill Hutchison
Chris Berry presents York Harness Racing
BHRC presents "Come Harness Racing"